The Magnolia High School Advanced Placement (AP) Incentive Assembly was held Wednesday.

The even recognized students who attained a qualifying score on the Advance Placement Exams given in May. Seventy-three students earned 117 qualifying scores of 3, 4, or 5 on their AP exams in their AP courses.

The students were presented a check from Magnolia School District in the amount of $100 per qualifying score. The total cash value awarded to these students was $11,700. The Albemarle Foundation continued its support of the program by contributing to the funds that made the incentives possible.

Magnolia High School had 22 students honored by the College Board by earning AP Scholar recognition. Fifteen of those students received AP Scholars status for scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams. Those students were Bradley Atkins, John Barham, Hunter Cassidy, David Cheng, Susan Fuller, Kassidy Gales, Jose Guzman, Aaron Henson, Alexis Hicks, Brenna Leggett, Hannah Parham, Richaben Patel, Katherine Pletcher, Parker Ribble and Sophia Yambot.

There were four students who received the AP Scholar with Honor status by receiving an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. Those students were Ryan Hudgens, Cameron Nichols, Abigail Pieratt and Gracen Seabaugh.

Three MHS students earned the AP Scholar with Distinction status by receiving an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. MHS students receiving this honor were Brayden Camp, Alyson White and Emma Wooldridge.

The 73 students earning a qualifying score of 3,4, or 5 on their Advanced Placement exams were:

Several local dignitaries were invited to attend the assembly honoring the 73 students earning qualifying scores. Those present were John Ward, Magnolia School District superintendent; William Watson, Magnolia School District board member; David Fielding, state representative; Bruce Maloch, state senator; Sarah Jennings, SAU Dean of Enrollment Services; Kimberly Jones, Albemarle Foundation; Cammie Hambrice, executive director of Magnolia Economic Development Corporation; Ellie Baker, executive director of Magnolia Chamber of Commerce; and Bob Edstrom, president Magnolia Economic Development Corporation.

There were 178 students in AP courses during the 2016-17 school year and a total of 295 AP exams were administered in May 2017 to these students.

Magnolia School District began a partnership in 2009 with the Arkansas Advance Initiative for Math and Science, Inc., (AR AIMS) and the National Math and Science Initiative. The goal of these organizations and the AP program is to increase the number of students enrolling in Advanced Placement courses, as well as increase the number of qualifying scores earned on AP Exams.

The AR AIMS grant ended in July 2013; however, the district continues an affiliation with AR AIMS for sixth grade through twelfth grade AP/Pre-AP teacher training and support.

Among local leaders attending the Advanced Placement Incentive Assembly, left to right, Bruce Maloch, Kimberly Jones, Ellie Baker, David Fielding, John Ward and Cammie Hambrice.

These students and former students were among the 2017 Magnolia High School Advanced Placement (AP) Incentive Assembly honorees.